UConn campus descends into violent chaos during March Madness title celebrations as students set FIRES, flip cars and tear down a lamppost - before using it to smash their way into school
- UConn clinched its fifth national title with a 76-59 win over San Diego State
- Students who were watching at the Gampel Pavilion spilled on to campus
- Click here for all your latest international sports news from DailyMail.com
UConn students and fans destroyed the college's campus Monday night as chaos followed their National Championship win.
The Huskies clinched their fifth national title over San Diego State with a 76-59 win and fans took the celebrations too far as UConn's campus erupted into chaos.
Thousands of UConn fans, most of them students, spilled onto campus after watching a broadcast of the victory with some pulling down signs and light poles, smashing windows and causing other damage.
In videos and photos circulating on social media, fans could be seen climbing lampposts Philadelphia-style before tearing them down.
A couple of topless students used one of the felled lampposts as a battering ram to break through the doors of one of their own campus buildings while the crowd gathered around them cheered them on.
UConn fans climbed lampposts and pulled them down on campus after the team's victory
Some students used a felled lamppost as a battering ram to break into a campus building
The Huskies clinched their fifth national title over San Diego State with a 76-59 win
On their fourth charge at the door the top glass window broke and the post flew through the break, causing the masses to roar in celebration. A security guard could be seen approaching the now smashed door but wisely kept his distance as the post hung precariously through the shattered glass.
Other students reportedly were flipping cars and WTIC-TV showed a van that had been overturned, with all of its windows shattered.
Outside of the door-smashing and car-flipping, footage from social media also showed students gathered around what appeared to be furniture and wooden pallets that had been set on fire. Fire trucks appeared to swiftly arrive on the scene.
UConn officials said they were still assessing the extent of the damage Tuesday morning and planned to give an update on arrests and any injuries.
Gampel Pavilion was open Monday night for students to watch the game, which was played in Houston and most of the partying, which lasted into early Tuesday morning, was peaceful.
The team was scheduled to return home to Storrs afternoon, with a rally planned inside Gampel, the team's home arena.
The Huskies were scheduled to arrive at Bradley International Airport about 3:30pm, with team buses making the about 40-mile drive to campus under police escort. The school said there will be no public access at the airport.
UConn dominated at both ends early and pulled away after San Diego State's defensive clamp down, finishing off one of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs with a 76-59 win over the Aztecs.
Thousands of students spilled onto campus with some pulling down signs and light poles
Video showed what appeared to be furniture and wooden pallets that had been set on fire
The Connecticut Huskies celebrate wildly after their brilliant victory on Monday night
Adama Sanogo cuts a piece of the net as a memento from an epic night for all the UConn team
Jordan Hawkins led the way once against as UConn emerged victorious against Aztecs
The Huskies got the shots they wanted and made life miserable for San Diego State defensively, looking like they were going to turn the national championship game into a runaway.
The Huskies knew the Aztecs would push, scrap and claw their way back. Their defense was too good, their will too strong.
For a stretch, the Huskies buckled but UConn's first appearance in the championship game since their title win in 2014 still ended in another rout.
'We keep our composure,' UConn guard Jordan Hawkins said. 'It doesn't matter what we go through, we're going to stick together no matter what.'
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont took to Twitter shortly after the 76-59 victory to congratulate the team.
'You guys worked so hard for this and we could not be more proud,' he wrote. 'Now, it's time to plan a parade.'
The Huskies had dominated this year's March Madness, winning all their games with ease, often by double digits.
However, UConn didn't have to face a No. 3 seed or above in this tournament and, therefore, never trailed in the second half of their last four games.
Most watched Sport videos
- Stirring moment fans chant U-S-A at Sugar Bowl after NOLA terror attack
- Angel Reese flaunts her New Year's Eve gown in playful video
- John Daly hits golf ball across street and over building for 2025
- Caitlin Clark leaves Travis Kelce beaming with review of Eras Tour
- Saints coach Darren Rizzi responds to the New Orleans attack
- Hit in Texas-Arizona football game fails to be labelled as targeting
- NFL fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk announces MAJOR career move
- Dyche responds to Maupay taking shots at Everton on social media
- Louisiana official says ATF team is ready for Sugar Bowl
- Arteta says Arsenal in 'good mood' following win against Brentford
- ESPN cameras catch Jake Bates doing 'freaky' act on national TV
- Oldest living Olympic medal winner, Agnes Keleti, dies at age 103